Engine-cooling system



T. B. SLATE.

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men AUG. 15. 1911,

1,03,605. Patented May 13, 1919.

THOMAS E. SLATE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENT TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMPANY (INCORPORATED), OF WASHINGTON, DIS- ENGINE-COOLING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

ot the outside atmosphere, and which will operate satisfactorily both in winter and in summer; to provide in connection with such All a system novel means for maintaining a circulation of vapor and water by means of a vacuum pump; to provide a novel vacuum pump for regulating and maintaining the operation of the system; and to so connect the pump so that it will operate whenever the engine runs. A further object of my invention is to provide an engine cooling system which can be used with great advantage for an aeroplane engine because-the-radiator by reason of the partial vacuum maintained therein by pump is lighter than it would be with any other system. It is further my object to provide a cooling system that is compara tively simple in construction and which may be depended upon to operate whenever the engine is runnin I attain the object of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my invention, the engine being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of cap 28 with a safety valve mounted therein;

'Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. I. Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the crankcase and 2 the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. I provide a water jacket 3 incasing the cylinders as shown. I provide a suitable gage A by means of which the-height of the water in the water jacket may be readily ascertained. The water jacket is connected with radiator head 6 by means of a suitable reintorced flexible connection 5;, which is adapted to take up vibration. Fndin between Specification of Letters Patent.

the operation of the vacuunr Patented May I3, IMO.

Application filed august 15, 1917. Serial No. 136,398.

the radiator head 6 and radiator base 9 are suitable radiator pipes 7 provided with radial cooling flanges 8. I provide a vacuum pump consisting of pump cylinder 11 and piston 18, and valve 13, the pump cylinder being provided with cover flanges 21, which are inturned toward the connecting rod 19 to prevent splashing of the water. I

provide a suitable intake valve 12 at the bottom of the pump cylinder, opening out of channel 10 which connects the radiator base with the bottom of the pump, as shown in Fig. 1. The pump is provided with a dividing wall 14, arranged as shown in Fig. 3, extending only part way to the top of the pump. cylinder. On one side of this dividing wall I a provide a suitable float 22 preferably'mounted in suitable guides 23, and provided with a suitable ball end 24 adapted toseat on the outlet port 25 and to act as a valve to regulate the flow of fluid through that port into the outlet water pipe 26 which leads to the water jacket into which it empties at vent 27 as shown in Fig. 1.

Connecting rod 19 is operatively secured to a suitable crank arm-20, which in turn is connected to pump drive wheel 15. Mem

28 in which ismounted a suitable safety valve adapted to admit air into the water jacket when the vacuum has attained a given absolute pressure. This valve consists of a thumb screw 29 provided with a ball end 30 adapted to close valve seat 31, the end 30 normally being held to its seat by the pressure of a suitable spring 32, as illustrated in In my. cooling system a comparatively small amount of water is necessary. The level of the water, indicated by A, is just above the top of the engine cylinders. As

indicated by dots in Fig. 1, the fluid above the line A is steam or vapor, The condensed steam from the boiling of the water in the water jacket 3 passes through connection 5 to the radiator head 6, and by gravity flows to the bottom of radiator pipe 7 and into radiator base 9, from whence it is sucked out by means of the vacu pump. I The water ting the surplus of Water to be sucked back into the water jacket by the vacuum maintained in the water jacket and radiator.

The surplus of air permitted to enter the -water jacket past valve 30 in radiator cap 28 is permitted to pass out through the top of vacuum pump through the orifice or opening 33 through which connecting rod 19 passes. The surplus of water coming through with the air, being heavier than the air, passes over wall 14 normally raising the vacuum water to the level indicated by D in Fig. 3 in the float chamber. When this level is sufliciently high to lift the float valve from its seat, the surplus of Water returns through pipe 26 to the water acket emptying through vent 27.

'To prepare the engine for operation the water jacket cap 28 is removed and the water jacket is filled with water to the line A, which will be indicated in the. glass water gage 4. Then the cap is replaced and screwed down until it is air tight. All joints and fittings in this system are designed to be air tight. When the engine is set 'in motion it runs the vacuum pump continuously and when a vacuum has been pumped in the radiator and cooling water jacket equal to the strength of spring 32 controlling valve 30 that valve opens and permits sufficient air to enter the water jacket to maintain the same vacuum at all times regardless of the amount of vapor produced by the heat of the engine cylinders. When a great amount of vapor is produced this would naturally reduce the amount of air necessary to supply the capacity of the pump, and the amount of vacuum to be malntained may be varied by tightening or loosening thumb screw 29 to adjust the compression of spring 32. This operation varies the boiling point of water in the Water jacket, since the boiling point of water varies according to atmospheric pressure; and as atmospheric pressure is reduced the boiling point of water will also be reduced to any desired temperature from 212 degrees Fahrenheit (the boiling point of water at sea level) to 40 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the efliciency of the vacuum.

The pump is run constantly at a greater capacity than the fullest vaporization of the engine cylinders. A high degree of efiiciency is obtained in cooling the engine by converting the water into vapor and subsequently condensing the steam before returning it to the water jacket. The admission of air through the safety valve, as will be understood, accelerates the condensation of the vapor. The engine cooling system herein set forth constitutes an important improvement in the art by reason of its dependence upon pressure instead of upon external temperature for its proper operation.

What I claim is 1. In an engine cooling system, the combination of a water jacket, the water jacket being only partially filled with water, a radiator connected with the Water jacket, a. vacuum pump operatively connected with the lower portion of the radiator, the vacuum pump having an adjacent float chamber, a float control valve in said chamber, a pipe leading from said chamber to the water jacket to allow water to flow back to the water jacket, and an adjustable spring-controlled valve in the water jacket to admit air when the pressure caused by the vacuum in the water jacket exceeds a given absolute pressure, and means for operating the pump.

2. In a cooling system, the combination of a water jacket, a radiator connected with the water jacket, a vacuum pump operatively connected with the lower portion of the 3. In an engine cooling system, the combination of a water jacket, a radiator connected with the Water jacket, a vacuum pump operatively connected with the radiator, a conduit for the return of water from thevacuum pump to the water jacket, and means for regulating the pressure caused by the vacuum in the water jacket, whereby to regulate the temperature of the boiling point of water in the Water jacket and thereby to maintain an even temperature of the engine cylinders regardless of weather conditions and to prevent leakage of water jackets, radiator and fittings by means of a vacuum greater than the weight of the water contained in the Water jacket and conduits connecting the various parts of the system.

4. In a cooling system, the combination of a water jacket the water jacket being only partially filled with water, a radiator flexibly connected with the water jacket, a vacuum pump operatively connected with the lower portion of the radiator, a floatcontrolled valve in connection with the vacuum pump, a conduit from the portion of the pump in which the aforesaid valve is mounted to the water jacket for the return of Water to the water jacket, and an adjustable valve containing cap removably mounted in the portion of the mechanism through which the vapor flows such as the water jacket or the radiator head whereby the water jacket may he readily filled with water and the pressure of the vacuum maintained therein regulated by the admission of air when certain desired conditions have 10 been reached, substantially as hereinbefore set forth. 

